1.  James Thompson in Christian County Court Order Books A & B.  Synopsis: 

James THOMPSON (either our subject or his father) first appears in Christian County Court Order Book A on 21 Jul 1798.  That he is signing approval of a mill seat on Pond River suggests this is the James THOMPSON who settled on Pond River. He became a Justice of the Peace for the County on 18 Mar 1800, and on 20 Mar 1800, he was given the authority to conduct marriages.  On several occasions, James posted bond for William THOMPSON to hold the office of Constable — could the two be related?  In 1804, he is called one of the two "eldest" of the Justices of the Peace and is recommended to the Governor for the office of Sheriff.  In 1806 and 1808, James is again recommended to the Governor for Sheriff.  In 1809, James received a commission from the Governor to become Sheriff of Christian County (William THOMPSON was one of the securities for his bond).  From 1800-1809, James had been in regular attendance at the County Courts, but once he had received his commission to be Sheriff, he resigned his position as J.P. and ceased his attendance at the County Courts.  Some time between January and August of 1811, James ceased to be Sheriff and ended up in litigation with his securities for that office and with the County Undertaker. It is clear from these records that James Thompson, J.P. (1800-1809), Sheriff (1809-1811), is not the same person as "James Thompson, Sr."  The office of Sheriff requires a man of physical vigor, and "James Thompson, Sr." was exempted from working on public roads on 14 Dec 1802, an exemption usually given to the aged due to infirmity.  James Thompson, Sr., was very likely Sgt. James Thompson, father of our subject, who served in the Revolutionary War and died in Christian Co. in 1803.

2a.  A.B. Willhite.  [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1804-1809.  (self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY):

Pg. in Willhite	Year	Dist.*	Last  Name	First Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
26	1804	North	Thompson	Jas. Sr.	1	-	-	-	10	120 100	P R P R
48	1805	North	Thompson	Jas.	[pages unreadable]
66	1806	North	Thompson	James Sr.	1	-	-	-	15	290	P R
132	1807	East	Thompson	James	2	1	-	-	10	120 100	P R P R
178	1808	East	Thompson	James Sr.	2	1	-	-	11	120 100	P R P R
226	1809	East	Thompson	James	1		-	-	13	120 100	West Fk of P R West Fk of P R
Legend for numerical data: A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20 (this column not used in 1809); C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses
Abbreviations:  P R = Pond River
*The county was divided into just two districts:  from 1804 to 1806, into North and South Districts; beginning in 1807, into East and West Districts.  The Pond River is in NE Christian Co.

After the death of his father in 1803, it appears that our subject was then called "Sr."

2b.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1810-1813.   (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY).

Pg. in Willhite	Year	First  Name	Last  Name	A	B	C	D	E	Acres	Watercourse
42	1810	James	Thompson	1		-	-	3	120	P R
92	1811	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	-	2	120	P R
144	1812	Jas	Thompson	1		-	-	3	120	P R
199	1813	Jas	Thompson	1		-	-	2	120	P R
Legend for numerical data: A = White Males 21 or over; B = White Males 16-20 (this column used only in 1811); C = Blacks over 16; D = Total Blacks; E = Horses
Abbreviations:  P R = Pond River

2c.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1814-1818.   (Self-published.  This book is out of print.  I do not have a copy.  If you have one to sell, please contact me.)

2d.  A.B. Willhite.   [n.d.]  Christian Co., Kentucky, Tax List, 1819-1823.   (Self-published; available from author at 4396 Coopertown Rd., Russellville, KY 42276, or from the Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY).

Pg. in Willhite	Year	First  Name	Last  Name	A	B	C	D	Acres	Watercourse
64	1819	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	165	P R
112	1820	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	145	P R
156	1821	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	2	165	P R
198	1822	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	165	P R
241	1823	Jas	Thompson	1	-	-	3	165	P R
Legend for numerical data: A = White Males 21 or over; B = Blacks over 16; C = Total Blacks; D = Horses
Abbreviations:  P R = Pond River

3.  Anon.  1993.  Christian County, Kentucky, Wills and Estates, 1815-1823:  Christian County Will Book C.  T.L.C. Genealogy, Miami Beach, FL.

p. 8	Page 21.  The estate of Abraham Adams, deceased, exposed to sale on Nov 29, 1815.  Purchasers... James Thompson... Recorded Dec Term 1815.
p. 30	Page 108.  Appraisement of the estate of Fredrick Holland deceased, taken Feb 10, 1817... Per C Court order of feb Term 1817, on Feb 10, 1817, appraised the estate of Fredrick Holland deceased.  Signed... James Thompson.  Recorded Jan Term 1818.
p. 37- 42	Page 138.  No. 1.  List of store accounts due Doct. Moses Steele, decd, at the store in Hopkinsville, marked #1, and comprising part of the inventory of the estate of sd Steele.  People in the list... James Thompson... Recorded May Term 1818. Page 142.  No. 2.  Part of the inventory of the estate of Moses Steele decd.  A list of Notes.  Nov 26, 1817.  Notes due: ... James Thompson.  Recorded May Term 1818. Page 144.  No. 3.  A memorandum of Medical Acct in 1815, 1816, & 17, as they appear due, at the death of Dr. Steele.  This acct comprises part of the inventory of the estate of Moses Steele, decd.  Persons named: ... James Thompson Esq... Recorded May Term 1818.
p. 65	James Thompson witnesses the will of Francis Buckner of Christian Co., 31 Aug 1818.
p. 94	Page 386.  A statement of the sale of the estate of david Pyle decd, sold on Sep 15, 1820. Purchasers:  ... James Thompson... Recorded Jun 4 1821.
p. 119	Page 479.  The estate of Geo Buckner deceased...  Disbursements mention:  taxes & levies for 1820, James Thompson...  Credits: ... James Thompson ... Recorded Jan Term 1823.
p. 129	Page 521.  Sep 15, 1822.  List of notes of hand and money of JW Cocke.  People mentioned: ... Jas Thompson...

There is no certainty all of the above entries apply to our subject.

4.  From The Kentucky Land Grants by Willard Rouse Jillson (1925, Filson Club Publ., Louisville, KY; reprinted 1994 by Genealogical Publ. Co., Baltimore, MD; online at Ancestry.com).

Name	Acres	Date	Watercourse	County
Thompson, James, Sr.	120	15 Feb 1799	West Fork Pond River	Christian
Thompson, James	100	18 Apr 1803	Pond River	Christian
The West Fork of the Pond River runs from north central Christian Co. northeastwards to join the Pond River as the boundary between Hopkins and Muhlenberg Cos.
Thompson, James	400	29 Sep 1803	Elk Fork, Red River	Logan/Todd
The Elk Fork of the Red R. runs from central Todd Co. southeastwards into Tennessee.

There were clearly at least three James Thompson very early to Christian/Logan/Todd Cos., KY.  Our subject appears to be the one on Pond River.  The one on the West Fork of the Pond River appears to be his father, who died in 1803.  Once our subject's father died, then he (i.e., the former James "Jr.") appears to have been refered to as James "Sr."

5.  Query at Christian Co., KY, GenConnect Query board, posted under the title, "James Thompson."  The James Thompson who was Justice of the Peace in Christian Co., KY, is said to have sold a family of slaves in 1816.  But the tax rolls (see above) show that he owned no slaves — unless the James Thompson who was JP was not the one who lived on Pond River, and I have totally mixed up the James Thompsons in early Christian Co.